Insulated gate thin film transistor and control system therefor

ABSTRACT

The gate threshold voltage is electronically controlled in an insulated gate transistor formed in a semiconductor thin film, such as fully depleted SOI, that is depleted of carriers between first and second principal surfaces. A third semiconductor region of the opposite conductivity type is placed such that it is in contact with the semiconductor thin film. The amount of carriers in the semiconductor thin film is controlled by supplying the semiconductor thin film with carriers of the opposite conductivity type from the third semiconductor region, or by drawing carriers of the opposite conductivity type from the semiconductor thin film into the third semiconductor region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an insulated gate field effect transistor and an integrated circuit built therefrom, and more specifically, to a technique which uses for a channel formation region a semiconductor thin film such as SOI (Semiconductor On Insulator) or SON (Semiconductor On Nothing). The semiconductor thin film is formed on an insulating substrate (SOI) in some cases, is suspended and held at both ends by substrates in a hollow state (SON) in some other cases, and has a projecting portion which is connected at one end to a substrate in still other cases.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A method called a dynamic threshold voltage controlling method has been proposed as a measure to obtain high speed and low stand-by power consumption by keeping large the absolute value of the gate threshold voltage to reduce leak current of a transistor when it is not in operation whereas keeping the absolute value of the gate threshold voltage small when it is in operation.

[0005] The dynamic threshold voltage controlling method is made implementable by connecting a well to a gate electrode if the transistor is a bulk MOS transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate and by connecting a body to a gate electrode if the transistor is a partially depleted SOI MOS transistor, so that the gate electrode serves as a signal input terminal (Reference 1: F. Assadeargi, et al., “A Dynamic Threshold Voltage MOSFET (DTMOS) for Very Low Voltage Operation” AIEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 15, No. 12, pp. 510-512, December, 1994).

[0006] The term partially depleted SOI, abbreviated as PD SOI, refers to SOI in which a depletion layer spreads only partially in the depth direction of its semiconductor thin film to give it a neutral region. ‘Body’ is a simplified term for the above semiconductor thin film in which a channel is formed.

[0007] On the other hand, SOI in which a combination of the thickness and impurity concentration is such that the depletion layer covers the entire depth of the semiconductor thin film is called FD (fully depleted) SOI. In FDSOI, within a certain gate voltage range, the body under a gate is depleted for the entire depth to provide no neutral region. Therefore, unlike bulk MOS and PDSOIMOS, connecting the body to the gate and inputting an ON signal thereto does not help FDSOI much in controlling the absolute value of the threshold voltage of the transistor. This is because forward bias between a source and a portion of the body that forms a channel is difficult to achieve when the body is depleted.

[0008] A patent on an insulated gate transistor structured to sandwich a semiconductor between two conductive gates through gate insulating films was granted in U.K. in 1935 to O. Heil. However, it did not mention or even hinted that a transistor having this structure is advantageous as a micro-channel transistor.

[0009] In contrast, a transistor structure in which a fully depleted (FD) semiconductor thin film is sandwiched between a first conductive gate and a third conductive gate with a gate insulating film has been proposed by an inventor, for the first time in the record, as a measure to overcome the limit of miniaturization of single gate MOS transistors which have come into practical use in recent years. The name the inventor has given to a transistor that has this structure is XMOS transistor (Reference 2: T. Sekigawa, Y. Hayashi, K. Ishii, S. Fujita, “MOS Transistor for a 3D-IC”, A 17^(th) Conference on Solid State Devices and Materials, Tokyo, 1985, Final Program and Late News Abstract, C-3-9 LN, pp. 14-16. Reference 3: Hayashi, “A Guide to Device Design Effective in the Coming Age of 0.025 μm”, Nikkei Microdevice July 1988, pp. 121-125.). Lately, many have published the fruition of their miniaturization research by the name of double gate MOS transistor.

[0010] Transistors having this structure are known to be capable of changing the gate threshold voltage viewed from a first gate by the electric potential of a third conductive gate. However, when the electric potential of the third conductive gate is fixed, the sub-threshold slope is increased and the ON-OFF transition voltage becomes large to give these transistors a drawback of poor switching efficiency. In addition, the method of controlling the threshold voltage solely by the third conductive gate electric potential has a drawback that the variable range of the threshold voltage is too limited. Another problem of this method is that, when applied to the SOI structure and the like in which the third conductive gate is placed on the back side of the semiconductor thin film, the method requires excess area and process steps for taking out an electric connection wire from the third conductive gate of each transistor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is therefore to provide a technique of changing through electronic controlling the gate threshold voltage of when an FDSOI transistor is in operation from the one when it is not in operation, and a transistor that embodies this technique. Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique, for an insulated gate transistor in which a depleted semiconductor thin film is sandwiched between a first conductive gate and a third conductive gate through a gate insulating film as is represented by double gate MOS transistors, that is capable of electronically controlling the gate threshold voltage without changing the electric potential of the third conductive gate and to provide such transistor.

[0012] Thus, according to the present invention, as shown in an example of a sectional view of FIG. 1, an insulated gate transistor is composed of: a semiconductor thin film 100 having a first principle surface 101 and a second principle surface 102 that faces the first principle surface; a first gate insulating film 210 formed on the first principle surface of the semiconductor thin film; a first conductive gate 310 formed on the first gate insulating film; a first semiconductor region 110 and a second semiconductor region 120 which face each other across the first conductive gate, which are insulated from the first conductive gate, which are in contact with the semiconductor thin film 100, and which have a first conductivity type; and a third semiconductor region (not shown) which has the opposite conductivity type and which is in contact with the semiconductor thin film. Further, in the semiconductor thin film 100 in which a first conductive gate electric potential causes depletion of carriers between the first principle surface 101 and the second principle surface 102 between the first and second semiconductor regions below the first conductive gate, there is adopted a method in which after carriers 2 of the opposite conductivity type are implanted into the thin film from the third semiconductor region of the opposite conductivity type, a first electric potential is subsequently applied to the conductive gate to induce a channel of the first conductivity type on a surface of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region.

[0013] The third semiconductor region, which is not shown in FIG. 1, is, for example, positioned so as to have a contact with an extended portion of the semiconductor thin film 100 extended in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The semiconductor thin film 100 in FIG. 1 is supported by a substrate 10 having an insulating layer 20 formed on its surface. In most cases, the substrate 10 is formed of silicon and the insulating layer 20 is a silicon oxide film. The supporting substrate that has an insulating layer on its surface is called an insulating substrate. An insulating substrate that is entirely formed of an insulating material, such as a quartz substrate, can also serve as the supporting substrate. An alternative structure (which will be described later in embodiments) is that one end of the semiconductor thin film, or an end of the first semiconductor region, the second semiconductor region, or the third semiconductor region, is supported by a substrate.

[0014] According to a second method of the present invention, on the other hand, the gate threshold voltage viewed from the first conductive gate is controlled by controlling for a fixed period the amount of carriers of the opposite conductivity type which are accumulated in the semiconductor thin film through supply of carriers of the opposite conductivity type from the third semiconductor region of the opposite conductivity type into a portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region, or through absorption of those carriers into the third semiconductor region. This method is suitable for an insulated gate transistor that is structured to sandwich a depleted semiconductor thin film between a first conductive gate and a third conductive gate through a gate insulating film.

[0015] The gate voltage necessary to induce a channel of a first conductivity type in the semiconductor thin film to which the carriers of the opposite conductivity type are implanted is reduced by a level corresponding to the number of the implanted carriers of the opposite conductivity type or electric charges. This means that the gate threshold voltage has shifted toward the depression side equivalently. If the gate threshold voltage changes in an enhancement type range, it means that the absolute value of the gate threshold voltage is reduced.

[0016] In the present invention, the third semiconductor region of the opposite conductivity which is higher in impurity concentration than the semiconductor thin film is provided in the semiconductor thin film in order to implant the carriers of the opposite conductivity type into the semiconductor thin film or to draw the carriers of the opposite conductivity type from the semiconductor thin film. When the third semiconductor region and the first or second semiconductor region are biased forward, carriers of the opposite conductivity type are implanted into the semiconductor thin film. After the implantation, the carriers of the opposite conductivity type are accumulated in the semiconductor thin film but, unless supplied continuously, the amount of carriers accumulated diminishes and eventually none remains as the lifetime of carriers expires.

[0017] On the other hand, depending on the surface electric potential of the semiconductor thin film, carriers of the opposite conductivity type which are generated by heat or by avalanche multiplication in a high field effect region may accumulate in the semiconductor thin film and change the gate threshold voltage viewed from the first conductive gate. If these carriers of the opposite conductivity type that are unintentionally accumulated are drawn from the semiconductor thin film into the third semiconductor region, the gate threshold voltage can be controlled and set to an intended level. To draw the carriers into the third semiconductor region, it is substantially zero bias or reverse bias between the third semiconductor region and the first or second semiconductor region.

[0018] Furthermore, the method and insulated gate transistor of the present invention are capable of controlling the gate threshold voltage by the electric potential of the third semiconductor region. This method, when applied to an insulated gate transistor that is structured to sandwich a depleted semiconductor thin film between a first conductive gate and a third conductive gate through a gate insulating film, can control the gate threshold voltage viewed from the first conductive gate steadily by controlling the accumulated amount of carriers of the opposite conductivity type in the semiconductor thin film utilizing the electric potential of the third semiconductor region which is relative to the electric potential of the third conductive gate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the accompanying drawings:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the principle of a gate threshold voltage controlling method for an insulated gate thin film transistor of the present invention;

[0021]FIGS. 2A and 2B are a plan view of an insulated gate thin film transistor formed on an SOI substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and a sectional view thereof, respectively;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention in which a third semiconductor region is sandwiched between plural second semiconductor regions and a second conductive gate is continuous from a first conductive gate;

[0023]FIG. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention in which a third semiconductor region is in contact with a portion of a semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between first and second semiconductor regions, a second conductive gate is continuous from a first conductive gate, and a second gate insulating film is the same film as a first gate insulating film;

[0024]FIGS. 5A and 5B are a plan view and a sectional view, respectively, of when the present invention is applied to an insulated gate transistor that has a first conductive gate on the first principal surface side and a third conductive gate on the second principal surface side;

[0025]FIG. 6 is an equivalent circuit diagram of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a CMOS inverter;

[0026]FIGS. 7A and 7B are a plan view of the inverter of FIG. 6 and a sectional view taken along the line X-X′ in the plan view of FIG. 7A, respectively; and

[0027]FIGS. 8A to 8G are diagrams showing a manufacture process for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Embodiment Mode

[0029] As a mode of effectively carrying out the present invention, an end of the third semiconductor region is placed within a distance in which carriers of the opposite conductivity type are diffused from a portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region in order to deliver carriers of the opposite conductivity type from the third semiconductor region to a portion of the semiconductor thin film where a channel is formed or in order to draw the carriers from this portion into the third semiconductor region.

[0030] Another mode of a transistor for effectively carrying out the present invention is an insulated gate transistor shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In this transistor, the semiconductor thin film is extended to the third semiconductor region, which is denoted by 130, from the semiconductor thin film portion which is denoted by 103 and which is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region denoted by 110 and the second semiconductor region denoted by 120. The extended portion of the semiconductor thin film is denoted by 104. A second gate insulating film 220 is formed on the extended portion 104 and a second conductive gate 320 is formed thereon.

[0031]FIG. 2A is a plan view of the above embodiment of the present invention whereas FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along the line X-X′ of the plan view. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, reference symbol 10 denotes a supporting substrate and 20 denotes an insulating film for insulating the semiconductor thin film from the supporting substrate. 113, 123, and 133 represent wiring contacts leading to the first, second, and third semiconductor regions, respectively. Denoted by 210 is a first gate insulating film, 400, a so-called field insulating film which is placed under a wire, and 410, an insulating film placed on a first conductive gate. 421 represents an inter-gate insulating film for insulating the first conductive gate and the second conductive gate, and 413 represents an insulating film formed on the third semiconductor region and others. 313 and 323 denote wiring contacts leading to the first and second conductive gates, respectively.

[0032] Described below is the transistor operation of when the first conductivity type is the n type and the opposite conductivity type is the p type. The principles and effects given in the following description also apply to the case where the first conductivity type is the p type, although the direction of symbol changes is reversed. ON voltage for transition from a low electric potential near zero to a first positive electric potential is applied to the first conductive gate. But first, a p-channel is induced in the semiconductor thin film below the second conductive gate with the third p type semiconductor region set to a second positive electric potential and the second conductive gate set to a low electric potential near zero or a negative electric potential, so that carriers of the opposite conductivity type, namely holes, are implanted through the p-channel into the semiconductor thin film below the first conductive gate.

[0033] Here, the second positive electric potential is set such that the difference between the second positive electric potential and the electric potential of the second conductive gate is larger than the absolute value of a threshold Vthr of the second conductive gate with respect to carriers of the opposite conductivity type (p channel in this example). If the electric potential of the first conductivity type is a low electric potential near zero, holes are also implanted and spread in the semiconductor thin film between the first and second semiconductor regions below the first conductive gate. The holes diffuse in the direction that is at right angles to the direction connecting the first and second semiconductor regions which become an n-channel drain region and an n-channel source region. An example of a way to shorten the time to implant holes in a transistor whose n-channel has a large channel width is to divide the second semiconductor region into two and place the third semiconductor region between the two halves as shown in FIG. 3. This arrangement maybe repeated in the lateral direction of the drawing to have plural third semiconductor regions.

[0034] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the first conductive gate and the second conductive gate are continuous. The structure of FIGS. 2A and 2B too can employ continuous first conductive gate and second conductive gate, which helps to reduce the number of input terminals and the area the transistor occupies. However, when the first conductive gate and the second conductive gate are continuous, the electric potential range of the third semiconductor region and the electric potential range of the continuous gates for implantation of carriers of the opposite conductivity type are narrower than when separate gates are employed. The manufacture process may be shortened by making one insulating film double as the first gate insulating film and the second gate insulating film.

[0035] The third semiconductor region in FIG. 2A is in contact with the extended portion of the semiconductor thin film. The method of the present invention can be carried out also when the third semiconductor region is in contact with the portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor regions as shown in FIG. 4. This arrangement, however, has a drawback of increasing the junction capacitance because of a strong possibility that the third semiconductor region comes into contact with the first or second semiconductor region.

[0036] The channel through which carriers of the opposite conductivity type are moved from the third semiconductor region is in the extended portion 104 of the semiconductor thin film. If a part of this channel is doped with an impurity having the first conductivity type (in the case where the semiconductor thin film is already doped with an impurity of the opposite conductivity type) or a high concentration impurity portion is formed in this channel, a barrier for preventing carriers of the opposite conductivity from flowing back to the third semiconductor region can be obtained. In this way, the gate threshold voltage of the opposite conductivity type carrier channel viewed from the second conductive gate is shifted to the enhancement side.

[0037] Another mode of a preferred transistor for effectively carrying out the present invention is an insulated gate transistor shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The transistor is characterized by including at least:

[0038] a semiconductor thin film (broken into portions 103 and 104) having a first principle surface 101 and a second principle surface 102 that faces the first principle surface;

[0039] a first gate insulating film 210 formed on the first principle surface of the semiconductor thin film;

[0040] a first conductive gate 310 formed on the first gate insulating film;

[0041] a first semiconductor region 110 and a second semiconductor region 120 which face each other across the first conductive gate, which are insulated from the first conductive gate, which are in contact with the semiconductor thin film, and which have a first conductivity type;

[0042] a third semiconductor region 130 which has the opposite conductivity type and which is in contact with the semiconductor thin film;

[0043] a third gate insulating film 230 formed on the second principle surface of the semiconductor thin film portion 103 that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region; and

[0044] a third conductive gate 330 which is in contact with the third gate insulating film 230.

[0045]FIG. 5A is a plan view of the above embodiment whereas FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along the line X-X′ of the plan view. In FIGS. 5A and 5B, reference symbol 10 denotes a supporting substrate and 20 denotes an insulating film on a surface of the supporting substrate 10. 113 and 123 represent wiring contacts leading to the first and second semiconductor regions, respectively. 133 represents a wiring contact leading to the third semiconductor region. Denoted by 400 is a so-called field insulating film which is placed under a wire, 431, an insulating film placed on the first conductive gate, 413, an insulating film placed on the third semiconductor region and others, and 433, an insulating film placed on the third gate conductive film. 313 denotes a wiring contact leading to the first conductive gate. 333 denotes a wiring contact provided, if necessary, to lead to the third conductive gate. The third conductive gate 330 in the specific example shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is long enough to reach the third semiconductor region 130 not directly but through the third gate insulating film 230. However, it is not always necessary to extend the third conductive gate this long.

[0046] In order to carry out the above embodiment of the present invention more effectively, an end of the third semiconductor region is placed within a distance in which carriers of the opposite conductivity type are diffused from the portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region in order to deliver without fail carriers of the opposite conductivity type to a portion of the semiconductor thin film that is between the first and second semiconductor regions and forms a channel.

[0047] The third conductive gate can be extended until it comes to an area below the third semiconductor region, which is on the third gate insulating film. Through a channel or depletion layer induced under the third gate, carriers of the opposite conductivity type are supplied from the third semiconductor region to the portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor regions, or are drawn from this portion of the semiconductor thin film into the third semiconductor region.

[0048] Described below is the transistor operation of when the first conductivity type is the n type and the opposite conductivity type is the p type. The principles and effects given in the following description also apply to the case where the first conductivity type is the p type, although the direction of symbol changes is reversed. When the electric potential of the second semiconductor region is 0 V and the electric potential of the third semiconductor region is 0 V, the threshold voltage of the first conductive gate is Vth10 and the threshold voltage of the third conductive gate with respect to carriers of the opposite conductivity type is Vthr30 (when the bias conditions are such that the first and third conductive gates both reach the precise threshold voltage).

[0049] For example, when the third conductive gate is biased so that the threshold voltage is set to (Vthr30-1) V and the third semiconductor region is biased to set its voltage V3 to −1 V, a gate threshold voltage Vth1 of the first conductive gate is increased to Vth1_(—)−1. Thereafter, the voltage V3 of the third semiconductor region is changed to 0 V or within a range of forward voltage to the second semiconductor region that does not cause a large current flow. In this case, the amount of change of the gate threshold voltage Vth1 of the first conductive gate from Vth1_(—)−1 is denoted by ΔVth1 and ΔVth1 is expressed as ΔV3 * (k3 * t1/(k1 * t3+αd)).

[0050] In the above expression, t1 and k1 are the thickness and dielectric constant of the first gate insulating film, respectively, t3 and k3 are the thickness and dielectric constant of the third gate insulating film, respectively, d represents the thickness of the semiconductor thin film and is smaller than 1, ΔV3 represents the amount of change of V3, * is a multiplication sign, and/is a division sign. This shows that the gate threshold voltage of the first conductive gate can be changed by the electric potential of the third semiconductor region without changing the voltage of the third conductive gate.

[0051] In a conventional transistor, the gate threshold voltage viewed from the first conductive gate is hardly changed when the third conductive gate is biased in the direction that makes the voltage of the third conductive gate exceed Vthr30 and induces more carriers of the opposite conductivity type into the semiconductor thin film (the negative direction if the opposite conductivity type is the p type). In contrast, the present invention is capable of widening the range of change of the gate threshold voltage by the electric potential of the third semiconductor region of the opposite conductivity type.

[0052] When the third conductive gate of the present invention is biased in the direction that makes the voltage of the third conductive gate approach Vthr30 or exceed Vthr30 and induces more carriers of the opposite conductivity type into the semiconductor thin film, it is also possible to control Vth by connecting the first conductive gate with the third semiconductor region and inputting a signal to the gate.

[0053] If the third conductive gate is formed from a semiconductor of the opposite conductivity type in the above embodiment, biasing the third conductive gate is unnecessary because of an incorporated voltage in the direction that induces carriers of the opposite conductivity to the second principle surface of the semiconductor thin film. In the case where the transistor does not have the third conductive gate, it is difficult to set the gate threshold voltage to the enhancement side by forming the gate from a semiconductor of a first conductivity type, forming the channel from a semiconductor of the opposite conductivity type, and utilizing the impurity concentration thereof as in prior art. This is because, in fully depleted SOI and SON, the semiconductor thin film is low in impurity concentration and small in thickness.

[0054] In this case, forming the first conductive gate from a semiconductor of the opposite conductivity type makes it easy to achieve the enhancement type change. Also, carrying out the method of the present invention securely becomes easier if the second conductive gate has the opposite conductivity type because then carriers of the opposite conductivity type can readily flow into the semiconductor thin film below the second conductive gate without applying a voltage whose polarity is opposite to the polarity of the power supply voltage to the second conductive gate. A semiconductor preferred as the material of these conductive gates is silicon or silicon germanium. In particular, p type silicon germanium brings a preferable threshold voltage to a silicon n-channel insulated gate transistor.

[0055] Embodiments

[0056]FIG. 6 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a CMOS inverter which is an embodiment of the present invention. Denoted by 113 n and 113 p are drain terminals of an n-channel MOS transistor and a p-channel MOS transistor, respectively. 123 n and 123 p are source terminals of the n-channel and p-channel MOS transistors, respectively. 133 n and 133 p are control terminals of the transistors. 313 n and 313 p are first gate terminals of the transistors. 323 n and 323 p are second gate terminals of the transistors. The control terminals 133 n and 133 p are connected to the third semiconductor regions of the n-channel MOS transistor and the p-channel MOS transistor, respectively. In FIG. 6, IN represents an input terminal and OUT represents an output terminal. Ctrl_n and Ctrl_p are Vth control terminals of the n-channel and p-channel transistors, respectively. Denoted by Vdd is a power supply voltage terminal whereas Vss denotes a terminal for the lower power supply voltage and, in a digital circuit, usually has a ground electric potential.

[0057]FIGS. 7A and 7B show an example of building a semiconductor integrated circuit from the circuit of FIG. 6. FIG. 7A is a plan view thereof and FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along the line X-X′ in FIG. 7A.

[0058] Reference symbol 10 denotes a supporting substrate, which, in this example, is an n type silicon <100>plane wafer of high resistance. Denoted by 20 is a silicon oxide film with a thickness of 100 nm. 103 n and 103 p represent portions of semiconductor thin films of an n-channel MOS transistor and a p-channel transistor, respectively. The semiconductor thin film portions 103 n and 103 p are each about 30 nm in thickness and form channels. 104 n and 104 p represent extended portions of the semiconductor thin films of the n-channel and p-channel MOS transistors, respectively, and the extended portions 104 n and 104 p serve as channels of carriers of the opposite conductivity type. 110 n and 110 p represent drains (first semiconductor regions) of the transistors. 120 n and 120 p are sources (second semiconductor regions) of the transistors. 130 n and 130 p are third semiconductor regions of the transistors and have the opposite conductivity type. 210 n and 210 p are first gate oxynitride films of the transistors and each have a thickness of 2.7 nm. 220 n and 220 p are second gate oxynitride films of the transistors. 310 n and 320 n are continuous first and second conductive gates of the n-channel transistor. 310 p and 320 p are continuous first and second conductive gates of the p-channel transistor. The first conductive gates are each 100 nm in length and, in this embodiment, formed of a laminate of a silicon thin film and a silicon germanium thin film. The first, second, and third semiconductor regions include semiconductor films that are formed on the semiconductor thin films through epitaxial growth.

[0059] A manufacture process of this embodiment is described below with reference to sectional views of FIGS. 8A to 8G and FIG. 7B.

[0060] (a) A highly resistive silicon wafer is used as a supporting substrate 10 and a silicon oxide film 20 with a thickness of about 100 nm and a silicon thin film 100 which has an n type impurity concentration of about 4×10¹⁷ atoms/cc and which has a thickness of about 35 nm are layered on the substrate to prepare an SOI substrate.

[0061] (b) On the thus obtained SOI, an oxide film 41 is let grow until it reaches a thickness of about 7 nm by thermal oxidation and a silicon nitride film 42 with a thickness of about 50 nm is formed thereon by CVD. Thereafter, a photoresist pattern 51 is formed by known photolithography to leave portions of the silicon thin film in transistor regions.

[0062] (c) Using the photoresist pattern 51 as a mask, the silicon nitride film is etched under etching conditions that provide a selective ratio with respect to the silicon oxide film. The photoresist pattern is then removed and the substrate surface is cleaned. The exposed surface of the silicon oxide film which is exposed by the removal of the silicon nitride film is oxidized by pyrogenic oxidation until a silicon oxide film 401 grows to a thickness of about 60 nm. Through this step, the silicon thin film 100 is divided into pieces each of which makes a transistor. Alternatively, a known STI (shallow trench isolation) technique may be used to divide the silicon thin film.

[0063] The silicon nitride film 42 is removed by a hot phosphoric acid-based etchant and the silicon oxide film 41 is removed by a buffer hydrofluoric acid-based etchant to expose the surface of the silicon thin film 100. A silicon oxide film 200 is formed on the surface of the silicon thin film 100 by thermal oxidation to a thickness of 2.7 nm. Thereafter, ECR (Electron Cyclotron Resonance), ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma), or like other high density plasma apparatus is used for surface nitrogenization at a nitrogenization ratio of 5 to 7% by introducing nitrogen radical from plasma of nitrogen gas, hydrogen gas, or xenon gas to the substrate surface and setting the substrate temperature to 400° C. Then the substrate is transferred in a highly pure nitrogen gas atmosphere and subjected to heat treatment at 800° C. in nitrogen to anneal surface defects. The silicon oxide film nitrigenized is used as the first and second gate oxide films.

[0064] (d) Next, a conductive gate thin film 300 is formed by deposition. For the first 10 nm or so, pure silicon is deposited to form a pure silicon thin film 301. Then a silicon germanium thin film 302 which contains about 60% of germanium and which is doped with boron is formed by deposition to a thickness of 200 nm. Boron-doped silicon is then deposited to a thickness of about 50 nm to form a boron-doped silicon thin film 303. The material gases used are mono-silane (SiH₄), germane (GeH₄), and di-borane (B₂H₆). A silicon nitride film 43 is formed thereon to a thickness of about 100 nm.

[0065] The initial pure silicon thin film is formed by deposition in order to homogenize the composition of the subsequently-formed silicon germanium thin film, and to even out the micro film thickness distribution. The germanium and boron in the film are diffused by the temperature and with time in the subsequent manufacture steps. Therefore the electric characteristic of the gate conductive film can be considered as that of boron-doped silicon germanium.

[0066] Using a known technique such as ArF lithography or electron beam lithography, a photoresist pattern for a conductive gate having a gate length of about 100 nm is formed on the above silicon nitride film/conductive gate thin film. The photoresist pattern is used as a mask in etching the silicon nitride film, the silicon film, the silicon germanium film, and the silicon film in order by the RIE technique.

[0067] A photoresist film shaped by photolithography and the silicon nitride film/conductive gate thin film are used as selection masks to selectively form, by ion implantation at low acceleration voltage (about 4 KeV for boron, about 15 KeV for arsenic), an extension region of the n type drain (114 n), an extension region of the source (124 n), an extension region of the n type third region (134 p), an extension region of the p type drain (114 p), an extension region of the source (124 p), and an extension region of the p type third region (134 n). In the implantation, the dose is set so as to obtain an impurity concentration of about 10¹⁹ atoms/cc (which is about 3×10¹³).

[0068] (e) Using a known gate side wall insulating film process, insulating film side walls 403 each having a thickness of about 40 nm are formed on the side faces of the first and second gates. The oxide films on the surfaces of the source and drain portions are subjected to wet etching to give the silicon thin film surfaces hydrogen-terminated faces. After that, a crystalline silicon layer 105 with a thickness of about 70 nm is selectively grown by a selective epitaxial technique on portions of the semiconductor thin film 100 that serve as the drains (100 n and 110 p), the sources (120 n and 120 p), and the third semiconductor regions (130 p and 130 n).

[0069] (f) A photo resist film shaped by photolithography and the insulating film side walls 403 are used as masks in ion implantation of arsenic and boron for forming the n-channel drain (110 n) and source (120 n), the p-channel third semiconductor region (n type) (130 p), the p-channel drain (110 p) and source (120 p), and the n-channel third semiconductor region (p type) (130 n). The impurity ions are introduced not only to the crystalline silicon layer formed by selective epitaxial growth but also to the underlying SOI semiconductor thin film portions. In the implantation, the arsenic dose is set so as to obtain an impurity concentration of about 10²¹ atoms/cc and the boron dose is set to a value that makes the impurity concentration about 10²⁰ atoms/cc.

[0070] (g) The silicon nitride film 43 on the conductive gate thin film (300) is subjected to wet etching by hot phosphoric acid or the like. The surface is then washed, nickel is deposited by evaporation to a thickness of about 20 nm, and sintering follows. The nickel on the insulating film that has not reacted is etched by an acid to leave a nickel silicide layer. Through high temperature sintering, silicide layers 110 ns and 110 ps are formed on the drains. Silicide layers formed at the same time are 120 ns and 120 ps on the sources, 130 ns and 130 ps on the third semiconductor regions, and 310 ns, 320 ns, 310 ps, and 320 ps on the gates.

[0071] A silicon oxide film is formed as a wiring interlayer insulating film 440 by CVD on the surface. Contact holes are opened in the film as needed and contact plugs 500 are formed from titanium nitride, tungsten, or the like. Then an aluminum thin film is formed by evaporation. A wiring pattern is formed by photolithography and RIE (reactive ion etching) to obtain a first layer wire 600 (at this point, the state of FIG. 7B is reached). Thereafter, an interlayer insulating film and a multi-layer wire composed of a copper wire or the like are formed as needed and, lastly, a passivation film is formed.

[0072] In the CMOS circuit formed as above, when the voltage of the third semiconductor regions is 0 V, the gate threshold voltage of the n-channel transistor is about 0.23 V and the gate threshold voltage of the p-channel transistor is about −0.2 V.

[0073] In the case of the above inverter circuit, if a voltage between 0.4 V and Vdd is applied to the third semiconductor region of the n-channel transistor before it reaches on the order of 10 picoseconds where an input signal is changed from 0 V to Vdd, Vth of the n-channel transistor is changed to about 0 V and a full driving ability is obtained even when Vdd is about 0.4 V or so.

[0074] On the other hand, when an input signal changes from Vdd to 0 V, a voltage between (Vdd−0.4) V and 0 V is applied to the third semiconductor region of the p-channel transistor before it reaches on the order of 10 picoseconds during which the change of the input signal is completed. Then Vth of the p-channel transistor is about 0 V and a full driving ability is obtained.

[0075] The channel through which carriers of the opposite conductivity type are moved from the third semiconductor region is in the extended portion 104 of the semiconductor thin film. If a part of this channel is doped with an impurity having the first conductivity type (in the case where the semiconductor thin film is already doped with an impurity of the opposite conductivity type) or a high concentration impurity portion is formed in this channel, a barrier for preventing carriers of the opposite conductivity type from flowing back to the third semiconductor region can be obtained. In this way, the gate threshold voltage of the opposite conductivity type carrier channel viewed from the second conductive gate is shifted to the enhancement side.

[0076] In the above embodiment, instead of the extension region 134 n of the p type third region, a portion having a different impurity concentration (higher impurity concentration, in this case) may be formed by arsenic implantation with the dose set to about 3×10¹² ions/cm² in the channel of holes in the semiconductor thin film extended portion of the n-channel MOS transistor. This sets the gate threshold voltage with respect to holes to about −0.4 V, thereby shifting it toward the enhancement side than the gate threshold voltage of the first channel formation semiconductor thin film portion with respect to holes. A barrier against the holes implanted into the first channel formation semiconductor thin film portion is thus formed and the holes are no longer pushed back to the third semiconductor region 130 p by the voltage of the first conductive gate which induces an n channel.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the conductive gates of the n-channel MOS transistor are formed of p type silicon and the first channel formation semiconductor thin film portion thereof has the n type conductivity and an impurity concentration of 4×10¹⁷ ions/cc, whereas the conductive gates of the p-channel MOS transistor are formed of n type silicon and the first channel formation semiconductor thin film portion of the p type MOS transistor has the p type conductivity and an impurity concentration of 4×10¹⁷ ions/cc. This sets the gate threshold voltage to 0.48 V for the n-channel transistor and to −0.48 V for the p-channel transistor when the electric potential of the third semiconductor regions is 0 V. By applying, before a gate signal is inputted, a voltage equal to or higher than 0.4 V to the third semiconductor region of the n-channel transistor and a voltage equal to or less than (Vdd−0.4)V to the third semiconductor region of the p-channel transistor, the absolute value of the gate threshold voltage becomes about 0.1 V. Accordingly, a high-speed CMOSLSI with very small leak current is obtained even when the power supply voltage is about 0.6 V.

[0078] On the other hand, if the first conductive gate is formed of n type silicon and the third conductive gate is formed of p type silicon in FIGS. 5A and 5B, Vth of the n-channel transistor is about 0.25 V and Vth of the p-channel transistor is about −0.25 V. Vth of the n-channel transistor is about 0.25 V and Vth of the p-channel transistor is about −0.25 V also when the first conductive gate is formed of p type silicon and the third conductive gate is formed of n type silicon. Designing a circuit in this manner makes it possible to stably control the concentration of carriers of the opposite conductivity type in the semiconductor thin film using the electric potential of the third semiconductor region.

[0079] When the electric potential of the third semiconductor region to the source is 0 V, the absolute value of Vth is almost 0.25 V whereas it is 0.05 V if the electric potential is 0.4 V. The electronic control is possible irrespective of what time interval is set for application of a control signal to the third semiconductor region. The impurity concentration of the semiconductor thin film is desirably zero. A desired thickness of the semiconductor thin film is ⅓ or less of the gate length in order to avoid punch through. Specifically, the thickness of the semiconductor thin film is desirably 7 nm or less if the gate is 20 nm in length. Desirable as a gate insulating film, the first gate insulating film and the third gate insulating film alike, is a 2 nm thick silicon oxide film whose surface is nitrogenized. An inverter, NAND, or NOR circuit composed of the transistors of this embodiment is small in stand-by current and large in drive current at a power supply voltage of 0.4 V.

[0080] In the above embodiment, a control signal to be applied to the third semiconductor region can be driven by an output of an inverter, NOR, or NAND two stages upstream. Then Vth of an inverter or the like can be controlled with one control signal if wires from the third semiconductor regions of the p-channel and n-channel transistors are connected.

[0081] When a circuit group composed of plural transistors is controlled as a group, wires from third semiconductor regions of n-channel transistors in the group are connected to one another and wires from the third semiconductor regions of p-channel transistors in the group are connected to one another. A control signal is given to the connected wires of the n-channel transistors and another control signal is given to the connected wires of the p-channel transistors to control the stand-by power and the circuit switching speed.

[0082] In the present invention, the semiconductor thin film may be a silicon germanium single crystal thin film or a strained silicon/silicon germanium laminate other than a silicon single crystal thin film. The gate insulating film may be a silicon oxynitride film, a silicon nitride film, an alumina film, a hafnium oxide film, a film of a silicon-hafnium oxide mixture, a zirconium oxide film, or a film of a silicon-zirconium oxide mixture other than a silicon oxide film. The conductive gates may be a tungsten film, a titanium nitride film, or a titanium/titanium nitride laminate other than a polysilicon film or a silicon germanium film. The first, second, and third semiconductor regions may be formed not only in the semiconductor thin film but also on top of the semiconductor thin film, and a metal silicide film or a metal thin film may be added thereon to form a laminate. Thus the present invention can be carried out within a modification range which comes easy to the skilled in the art.

[0083] The first, second, and third semiconductor regions are described in this specification as “being in contact with” the semiconductor thin film. This contact state is obtained either by introducing impurity atoms into the semiconductor thin film and forming the first, second, and third semiconductor regions in the film or by forming the first, second, and third semiconductor regions on the semiconductor thin film by deposition.

[0084] The present invention is applicable to both PDSOI and FDSOI and, when applied to FDSOI, the present invention can provide effects that have been difficult to attain in the prior art.

[0085] The present invention makes it possible to electronically control Vth of not only PDSOI and bulk insulated gate transistors but also FDSOI and FDSON insulated gate transistors.

[0086] Furthermore, the present invention can enlarge the range of electronic control of the gate threshold voltage of double gate insulated gate transistors, which can be miniaturized further than the miniaturization limit of conventional MOS transistors. If a third conductive gate of a double gate insulated gate transistor is positioned in a lower part, the gate threshold voltage can be controlled merely by changing the electric potential of a third semiconductor region without establishing a connection from the third conductive gate to each transistor.

[0087] The present invention makes it possible to electronically control Vth of a transistor that has a larger channel mobility since a channel is induced at a lower impurity concentration of a semiconductor thin film in FDSOI than in PDSOI.

[0088] According to the present invention, a current flows from the third semiconductor region only when carriers of the opposite conductivity are implanted and the current level necessary in a stable state is of about the carrier recombination current. With a conductive gate of the present invention which is formed of a semiconductor of the opposite conductivity type, the stand-by gate threshold voltage can be set far on the enhancement side. This makes it possible for an insulated gate transistor, even a fully depleted SOI transistor, to have large ON current and small OFF current both at the same time. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling an insulated gate transistor comprising: a semiconductor thin film having a first principle surface and a second principle surface that faces the first principle surface; a first gate insulating film formed on the first principle surface of the semiconductor thin film; a first conductive gate formed on the first gate insulating film; a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region which face each other across the first conductive gate, which are insulated from the first conductive gate, which are in contact with the semiconductor thin film, and which have a first conductivity type; and a third semiconductor region which has the opposite conductivity type and which is in contact with the semiconductor thin film, the semiconductor thin film having such thickness and impurity concentration relation that a first conductive gate electric potential causes depletion of carriers between the first principle surface and the second principle surface between the first and second semiconductor regions below the first conductive gate, comprising: implanting carriers of the opposite conductivity type into the thin film from the third semiconductor region of the opposite conductivity type; and applying the first electric potential subsequently to the conductive gate to induce a channel of the first conductivity type on a surface of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region.
 2. A method of controlling an insulated gate transistor comprising: a semiconductor thin film having a first principle surface and a second principle surface that faces the first principle surface; a first gate insulating film formed on the first principle surface of the semiconductor thin film; a first conductive gate formed on the first gate insulating film; a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region which face each other across the first conductive gate, which are insulated from the first conductive gate, which are in contact with the semiconductor thin film, and which have a first conductivity type; and a third semiconductor region which has the opposite conductivity type and which is in contact with the semiconductor thin film, the semiconductor thin film having such thickness and impurity concentration relation that a first conductive gate electric potential causes depletion of carriers between the first principle surface and the second principle surface between the first and second semiconductor regions below the first conductive gate, comprising: drawing carriers of the opposite conductivity type from the semiconductor thin film of the opposite conductivity type into the third semiconductor region to control a gate threshold voltage to an intended level. third semiconductor region to control a gate threshold voltage to an intended level.
 3. An insulated gate transistor to which a method of claim 1 is applied, wherein an end of the third semiconductor region is placed within a distance in which carriers of the opposite conductivity type are diffused from a portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region.
 4. An insulated gate transistor to which a method of claim 1 is applied, wherein the semiconductor thin film is extended to the third semiconductor region of the opposite conductivity type from a portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region, and wherein a second gate insulating film is formed on the extended portion of the semiconductor thin film and a second conductive gate is placed on the second gate insulating film.
 5. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 4, wherein the first conductive gate and the second conductive gate are continuous.
 6. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 4, wherein the third semiconductor region is in contact with the portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region, and wherein the second gate insulating film and the second conductive gate are the same films as the first gate insulating film and the first conductive gate.
 7. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 4, wherein there are plural second semiconductor regions facing the first semiconductor region, and wherein the third semiconductor region is placed between the plural second semiconductor regions.
 8. An insulated gate transistor to which a method of claim 1 is applied, wherein the insulated gate transistor comprises a third gate insulating film formed on the second principle surface of a portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region, and wherein the third conductive gate is in contact with the third gate insulating film.
 9. An insulated gate transistor comprising at least: a semiconductor thin film having a first principle surface and a second principle surface that faces the first principle surface; a first gate insulating film formed on the first principle surface of the semiconductor thin film; a first conductive gate formed on the first gate insulating film; a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region which face each other across the first conductive gate, which are insulated from the first conductive gate, which are in contact with the semiconductor thin film, and which have a first conductivity type; a third semiconductor region which has the opposite conductivity type and which is in contact with the semiconductor thin film; a third gate insulating film formed on the second principle surface of a portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region; and a third conductive gate which is in contact with the third gate insulating film, wherein an end of the third semiconductor region is placed within a distance in which carriers of the opposite conductivity type are diffused from the portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region, and wherein a gate threshold voltage viewed from the first conductive gate is controlled by an electric potential of the third semiconductor region.
 10. An insulated gate transistor comprising at least: a semiconductor thin film having a first principle surface and a second principle surface that faces the first principle surface; a first gate insulating film formed on the first principle surface of the semiconductor thin film; a first conductive gate formed on the first gate insulating film; a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region which face each other across the first conductive gate, which are insulated from the first conductive gate, which are in contact with the semiconductor thin film, and which have a first conductivity type; a third semiconductor region which has the opposite conductivity type and which is in contact with the semiconductor thin film; a third gate insulating film formed on the second principle surface of a portion of the semiconductor thin film portion that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region; and a third conductive gate which is in contact with the third gate insulating film, wherein the third conductive gate is extended until it partially overlaps the third semiconductor region with the third gate insulating film sandwiched therebetween, so that a gate threshold voltage viewed from the first conductive gate is controlled by an electric potential of the third semiconductor region.
 11. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 10, wherein the semiconductor thin film is formed on an insulating substrate.
 12. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 10, wherein a surface portion of a substrate supporting the semiconductor thin film serves as the third conductive gate.
 13. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 10, wherein at least the end of the semiconductor thin film is supported by substrate.
 14. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 10, wherein the first conductive gate is formed of silicon of the opposite conductivity type.
 15. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 10, wherein the second conductive gate is formed of silicon of the opposite conductivity type.
 16. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 10, wherein the third conductive gate is formed of silicon of the opposite conductivity type.
 17. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 14, wherein the conductive gate is formed of silicon germanium of the opposite conductivity type.
 18. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 10, wherein the first and second conductive gates are formed from a p type silicon germanium that contains 45 to 60% of germanium in average, and wherein the portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region contains an n type impurity in a concentration of 1.2×10¹² to 1.6×10¹² ions/cm².
 19. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 10, wherein the first and second conductive gates are formed from a laminate of a p type silicon germanium layer that contains 45 to 60% of germanium in average and a silicon layer, and wherein the portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region contains an n type impurity in a concentration of 1.2×10¹² to 1.6×10¹² ions/cm².
 20. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 10, wherein a portion having a higher impurity concentration than the portion of the semiconductor thin film that is sandwiched between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region is formed in the extended portion of the semiconductor thin film which leads to the third semiconductor region of the opposite conductivity type.
 21. An insulated gate transistor according to claim 10, wherein the semiconductor thin film is doped with an impurity of the opposite conductivity type, and wherein a portion doped with an impurity of the first conductivity type is formed in the extended portion of the semiconductor thin film which leads to the third semiconductor region of the opposite conductivity type. 